Skírnir - 01.04.2002, Page 51

SKÍRNIR STOFNUN LÝÐVELDIS - NÝSKÖPUN LÝÐRÆÐIS 45
Summary
The article seeks to explain the adoptation of a semi-presidential constitution in
1944 when Iceland terminated the union-agreement with Denmark and became an
independent republic. Semi-presidential government is characterized by the du-
ality of executive power, divided as it is between the popularly elected president
and the prime-minister, responsible to parliament. Thus the new constitution in-
volved a system change from the previous parliamentary system of government.
The shift is located in a political struggle, involving the political parties, the press,
the general public, as well as the Regent, who had replaced the Danish King as
head of state in 1941. Two main forces emerged, one favouring parlimentary
government, the other advocating semi-presidential government. This debate did
not follow the traditional left-right division, as the most nationalistic forces to the
left and the right united in support of parliamentary government while other polit-
ical forces coalesced around the Regent in support of the system change. A con-
flict of ideas also emerged as parliamentary government was based on the theory
of indirect democracy, while semi-presidentialism was closely associated with the
principles of direct democracy. The victorious forces were greatly helped by strong
public support, the strength of populism in the political culture, the perceived fail-
ure of the previous parliamentary government, and the political skills of the
Regent, Sveinn Björnsson (1881-1952), who became the first president of the
Republic of Iceland.